The Batasan-San Mateo Road is one of two roads directly connecting Metro Manila (through Quezon City) to the northern towns (San Mateo and Rodriguez) of Rizal Province. One end of the road is at the junction with the IBP Road that is the main access to the Batasan Complex, where the Philippine House of Representatives is located. The other end is at the junction with Gen. Antonio Luna, which is also known as the Marikina-San Mateo-Montalban Road.

The road descends from the higher elevation hills of Quezon City and the Batasan area towards the Marikina River and the Marikina Valley.

The road has 2 lanes along each direction and opposing traffic are separated by a narrow median island tht probably won’t stop larger vehicles should their drivers lose control and go towards the other side.

Part of the road was carved out of the hill and this is clear from the sections where the rock or soil is exposed. This is similar to the way Ortigas Ave. in Pasig was constructed in the 1970’s out of the rock of the hills of Pasig and Mandaluyong.

Traffic is generally light along this road but there are incidence of congestion uphill (to QC) due partly to the slope and in many cases due to trucks or tricycles.

Lands on either side of the road are residential areas with a mixture of exclusive subdivisions, low income communities and informal settlers.

A concrete bridge spans the Marikina River.

The bridge is long and if traveling along the outer lanes, one can get a good view of the Marikina River and its flood plains. When traveling to QC, one would have a good view of the structures dotting the hills, which are mostly houses and shanties of different types.

Jeepneys started plying routes along the road as it provided a shorter way between Metro Manila and the towns of San Mateo and Rodriguez as well as the northern barangays of Marikina. Travelers won’t have to pass through the traditional way via Marikina.

Median opening just meters away from the junction with Gen. A. Luna.

End of the road – the junction with Gen. A. Luna, which is already in San Mateo, Rizal. Turning right takes the traveler to Marikina City while a left will bring one to San Mateo town proper and Rodriguez (Montalban) further on.

2 Comments

[…] Novaliches routes. The following photos were taken around the same time the other photos along the Batasan-San Mateo Road, Montalban Highway and Payatas Road were taken and so comprise a series of […]

A nice road to drive on, hampered only by poor lighting at night. Driving downhill here at night is an exercise in caution – many tricycles dont have working lights and jaywalkers abound.

There is a massive tendency for congestion at the ending intersection. Everyone who left San Mateo/Montalban is now trying to get back in, causing long lines at the intersection, which is only controlled by an enforcer. Only if there was space for a roundabout or a small interchange.